You may not be aware, but there is art all around us in public spaces. From figurative and representative to abstract styles, many city buildings, schools and other facilities house visual art. Sculptures, paintings and mosaics dot campuses and parks in Tyler.

Art is found in some least suspecting places, such as the city of Tyler entrance sign near Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. It sits on a glass base and the rose is a welded metal sculpture.

A series of mosaics by artist Millard Sheets are visible in the Wisenbaker Building and at Willow Brook Country Club. One piece has an illustrious background story. Shorty the Squirrel, at Wisenbaker on North Broadway Avenue, is a tribute to a squirrel that visited the downtown square in the early 1950s.

“Geese Flying,” by George E. “Pat” Foley, was commissioned by Watson Wise and sits at the plaza fountain of the Watson W. Wise and Emma Wise Cultural Arts Center at Tyler Junior College.

Geese Flying is 5 feet high and 10 feet long and depicts a flock of life-size geese taking off from a pond.

Retired psychologist and sculptor Jim Day first became interested in the artwork displayed around Tyler in 2005.

That year, he and his wife, Cherry, noticed that a sculpture by Garland Weeks, an internationally known sculptor, was featured at the Camp Fannin Veteran’s memorial. The couple has since established a small art business, visited art shows and obtained some commissions.

Day creates fine art pieces by sculpting found hardwood. Mrs. Day also is a figurative and portrait sculptor who works with clay and creates small bronze pieces.

The couple was soon interested in other public art works in the community. Day sought information about Tyler’s public art.

“Generally, public art takes a built space and fills it with something that provides that space with an identity,” Day said. “That identity becomes something of value for the community.”

Tyler’s art scene is strong, Day said, noting robust art departments at each of the universities and at public and private schools.

“Public art connects people,” Day said. “It brings people together through a shared experience and instills a sense of belonging and community.”

Visit tylerpaper.com to view a complete list of public artwork in Tyler.

Origin unknown; cast concrete bas relief based on the "The Spirit of Progress," a bronze statue at the top of the tower of the Montgomery Wards Building, Chicago, Ill., likely sculpted by George Mulligan after Augustus Saint-Gaudens' bronze "Spirit of Progress;" Spring Creek Facades Plaza; figurative